[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6182222,"mediaKeyId","5107498-3d4f5f24efcaf95e188644daba308321","parentId",5107498,"title","Public commenter calls Akron’s All-America City push \"propaganda,\" urges term limits and policing accountability","audioSeconds",100,"startMs",1160000,"endMs",1260000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107498-3d4f5f24efcaf95e188644daba308321&start=1160&end=1260","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107498-3d4f5f24efcaf95e188644daba308321/thumbnail_1160000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6182222/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Public-commenter-calls-Akrons-All-America-City-push-propaganda-urges-term-limits-and-policing-accountability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182222-7821a299dd334ede222ca67a6366f314/orig.mp4?Expires=1773748263&Signature=KJ9NrCI4UYalQuVhEICWsqEiDuznsI-2uFIpk~HuRuSGUPliwqBLhSZ2iMFZMcwXJ~8tV0DUVUr-lPPUBbvWPGu3CSUsV~UWICrPsOzw425XSAV4KDMgjq5XRfDIfow~6BZTs1TUIbzNtrAN20m7X04J651R~KMpp~hhKi04ZCSAm0XCxng-aAmgdN13MDKqUcCyXpQm9g6vh9h7uTcDdSXnZnZKv0CXN36xs-qwexb2ae4M6MPiJmUGSQyZtAXgCcpBvpVDF2KQvSt3ZyS1qwWutZYOS6zj0jDGjAF6M418mCiK-MAq0bi2bS6F9iTYUDTwwtSq~tjyWsBVjUL2Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Akron, OH ","date","2025-07-01T10:48:12Z","article","William Reynolds told Akron City Council that the city's effort to win an All-America City award diverts staff time and money from urgent local needs such as poverty, housing insecurity, police violence and youth disconnection.

Reynolds described the campaign as optics-driven and said it consumes application fees, travel expenses and staff time. “It's a marketing trophy earned through application fees, travel expenses, staff time, flashy presentations, and photo ops, all designed to make the city look good on paper while we are still suffering,” Reynolds said. He urged the city to focus on services for people in public housing, people experiencing homelessness, and other underserved groups.

Reynolds also suggested it may be time to pursue a charter amendment to add term limits for the council and mayor, and questioned the council's attention to police oversight, saying the public needs stronger use-of-force review. He referenced community gatherings and memorials for people killed in the city — Jaylen Walker, Jasmine Tucker and Muhammad Essefon — and argued city officials should prioritize accountability and reform over awards and publicity.

These remarks were made during the meeting’s public-comment period; the council did not take formal action on the criticisms during this session. The speaker framed his remarks as a call to change priorities and to seek structural reforms, but no council motion or referral on those suggestions was recorded in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Akron Council Meeting - 06.30.2025","oneSentenceSummary","William Reynolds used the public-comment period to criticize city spending and staff time on pursuing an All-America City award, called it \"propaganda,\" and urged term limits and more attention to poverty, housing insecurity and police accountability.","taxTitle","Akron, Summit County, Ohio","taxId",2666,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6182225,"Resident objects to proposed marijuana dispensary near Dodge Avenue, cites traffic and property-value concerns",114,959000,1073000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107498-3d4f5f24efcaf95e188644daba308321&start=959&end=1073","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107498-3d4f5f24efcaf95e188644daba308321/thumbnail_959000.jpg","/articles/6182225/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Resident-objects-to-proposed-marijuana-dispensary-near-Dodge-Avenue-cites-traffic-and-property-value-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182225-980c689b3341127d8f9f25aeb2aeea7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773748263&Signature=XMyYXo4Ykve3munoGCJmYIza7cU0hKeMku4~bmwdStDfwhGzQWz4vEzBYCG0vHnCeX5fmqck8xfMNeLcGeYgZeo7CUXmEkelAdVAeOqNXQS3niQ8MRtzHYtFa6T~DY6C4Mq2Vqwl5qF3pPtA98XRjbglhWl~P9b22BYTP3sR7g4U~Ma46cF~iJTd62oH-aSV8azAnzpELWsKJ8S3MpqO6Sh7MdPSyvsfgMpqp84n1IpNoLwJf6wPsGtMO7zmMRwH~IExaY3eRQtPlcT3Di1OVD7JdbsZW7OBtmkKu32m~7yszbZTmVT1OXi-BzY9AaUhyodg4jHKoXXiZADoLDjEsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David Parks, a resident at 39 Dodge Avenue, told Akron City Council during public comment that a proposed marijuana dispensary near his home — roughly 100 feet from his property line, he said — would harm property values and neighborhood quality of life.

Parks described the location as adjacent to Dodge Avenue and said the parcel previously held a house at 25 Dodge Avenue. He said a neighbor invested $250,000 renovating a four-unit building nearby and that tenants are young professionals who would be affected by a dispensary. “I counted the people that walked in in 62 minutes. This is on the June 6. And 54 people walked in,” Parks said, describing observations at a dispensary he identified as Blum.

Parks said he checked other dispensary locations and noted larger separations from houses, stating that at one site “it's 350 feet to the nearest house.” He also cited a distancing rule when discussing siting: “There's a reason why they can't be within 500 feet of a church, a school, or a play,” as he described it. Parks said he had spoken with two real-estate professionals who told him a dispensary could reduce property values.

The remarks were made during the meeting's public comment period; no council action on the proposed dispensary was recorded on the meeting agenda. The council did not take public testimony on the siting as part of a formal hearing during this meeting and no zoning or licensing vote was taken.","A Dodge Avenue resident urged the council to oppose a planned marijuana dispensary near his home, citing proximity to residences, a high customer count observed at another dispensary and potential impact on property values and neighborhood character.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":78,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6182230,"Akron council ratifies emergency temporary water main connection with Medina County",1380000,1494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5107498-3d4f5f24efcaf95e188644daba308321&start=1380&end=1494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5107498-3d4f5f24efcaf95e188644daba308321/thumbnail_1380000.jpg","/articles/6182230/Akron/Summit-County/Ohio/Akron-council-ratifies-emergency-temporary-water-main-connection-with-Medina-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182230-12e618912d5c4bcbeff51da004588dc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773748263&Signature=ioHsUQB~twKn57z-kJ56nefIOLuoTmY4GKDkaT1n40CoSXsl6btTi7nh0DMaBORXNMMsI5w7YRv18YPd1SjdNz6D-I2E3ZyeSkPy1csYEhGRUaqehwke2ha6J4-KBMqMoBsBIDCkjuZrK5hUK17EPFh6zjYhd9kFpbsXgolfmG47pUtltx9CucCrmsckyovhK9BZu2WLS2b68HI1686xC8BEi-9fAfAsL0ZOrBV-91gTZxSyqFe3FiY7Y5gT-ssen4hkrb0dWZLryWB0XTl7abUiJAklDLNMg8DTqIGf6ztQnopzECrtgXVGz-7CHwk2NURSBeZXwuLD7KGEdp~U6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Akron City Council on Monday approved an ordinance ratifying the director of public service's emergency contract with the Medina County Board of Commissioners and Wingfoot Rental and Development Company to install a temporary water main connection, voting 10-0 after suspending the rules.

Councilman McKittrick, who presented the item, said the temporary tie-in was needed while the city completes repairs to water infrastructure on the west side. “While we were, having to do some repairs on out to the west side of the our water infrastructure, we were able to tie in with Medina to be able to continue service. And it's gonna continue that way until we, are able to finish the repairs out there, and we're asking for passage,” Councilman McKittrick said.

The ordinance (Item No. 2) ratified actions taken by the director or his designee to contract with Medina County and Wingfoot Rental and Development Company and declared an emergency to allow immediate implementation. Council suspended the rules on the item after a favorable committee report and recorded a 10-0 vote to adopt the ordinance.

City officials said the temporary connection will remain in place until the city's permanent repairs are finished; no additional timetable or cost details were provided in the meeting record. The measure allows the director of public service or his designee to execute the necessary contracts and work with Medina County to maintain water service during repairs.

The council also passed the consent agenda and minutes earlier in the meeting; no separate public hearing or extended debate on the temporary water main was recorded.","The Akron City Council passed an ordinance ratifying the director of public service's contract with the Medina County Board of Commissioners and Wingfoot Rental and Development Company to install a temporary water main connection while west-side repairs continue; the emergency measure passed 10-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenter calls Akron’s All-America City push "propaganda," urges term limits and policing accountability

Resident objects to proposed marijuana dispensary near Dodge Avenue, cites traffic and property-value concerns

Akron council ratifies emergency temporary water main connection with Medina County